PICS: What it costs to live alone around the world
Living alone costs more than $4,000 a month in some of the world's most expensive cities, but the size of the bill tells only half the story.
Living independently in the world's most expensive capitals can come with a hefty price tag. A study by Atmos ranks London as the most financially challenging city for a young adult living alone, estimating that a salary of $4,674 a month is needed to cover expenses and leave a 10% buffer. This is largely due to the high cost of housing, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging £2,261 in central London and £1,702 outside the centre.
However, Londoners benefit from a robust public transport system, with a monthly pass covering buses, the Tube, and rail services costing around £200.
Washington DC comes in second, requiring $4,514 a month. While the average monthly take-home pay is about $7,120, this still leaves a gap between earnings and the required salary. Housing costs are still high, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging $2,607 in the city centre and $2,120 outside it. Washington also has a relatively affordable public transport pass at around $120 per month.
Reykjavik requires $4,363 a month, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging around 298,000 króna in the city centre. Everyday expenses are not particularly forgiving, with utilities costing about 10,695 króna and a public transport pass at 11,200 króna. Despite the high cost, Reykjavik has a quality-of-life score of 195.1, indicating that the expenses do not necessarily mean a poor standard of living.
Dubai rounds out the top five at $4,016 a month, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging €2,317 in the city centre. Amsterdam has a higher average take-home pay at about €4,136, leaving some room between earnings and the required salary. The city also has a bicycle-friendly culture, with around 32% of traffic being by bicycle and 63% of residents cycling daily, reducing the need for car ownership.
In contrast, Johannesburg, where the comparison becomes particularly interesting, requires a budget of R35,025 a month before the buffer. Rent alone accounts for R10,060, with additional costs for levies, rates, electricity, groceries, and a car and petrol. Healthcare costs are also significant at R5,500 for medical aid and R3,000 for out-of-pocket expenses.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
